The leaders of Europe took the lead in expelling Russian diplomats over the poisoning of a Soviet spy and his daughter. British Prime Minister May said Russia was responsible for the poisoning. President Trump followed those actions and expelled Russian diplomats from the United States. European leaders understood they could not let Putin run wild and acted swiftly in response and called out the Soviet leader.
It is a far cry from the way President Trump has responded to Russia's interference in the 2016 Presidential election. And in fact Trump the candidate gave Putin and Russia encouragement when he asked for their help to hack into Clinton's email in order to find dirt. We also know from Special Counsel Mueller's investigation that Trump's son and son in law were doing business with Russia during the campaign and after.
Trump has abandoned America's strength in leading the free world on matters of importance that really matter and make a difference. His negative comments concerning NATO has encouraged Russia's Putin to take a more aggressive role toward America's NATO allies. And although it is not in public view a new arms race between the U.S. and Russia is taking place.
With the Trump administration in so much trouble on so many fronts all it would take is a miscalculation to start another unnecessary war or farther unravel the fabric of our institutions where chaos becomes the norm. That must not happen.
Note: Russia has expelled both European and U.S. diplomats from its soil in retaliation. Its the tit for tat that goes on in the diplomatic world of politics in government.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
